Btjkkter fob gas eises



I. H. GRAYSON.

. BURNER FOR GAS FIRES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1921.

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J. H. GRAYSON.

BURNER FOR GAS FlRES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, I92].

Patented Aug. 8, 1922.

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UNITED stares Parana" caries.

JOHN H. GRAYSON, OF ATHENS, OHIO, ASSIGNOB 170 THE 3'. H. GRAYSONMANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF ATHENS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BURNER F0151, GAS FIRES.

Application filed May 3, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. Gnarson, a citizen of the United States,residing at Athens, in the county of Athens and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful improvements in Burnersfcr Gas Fires, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gas burners in general and more particularlyto burners for gas fires.

Gas fires, especially those having radiant mantles are now commonly usedthroughout the country, both in connection with artificial gas and withnatural gas.

In many localities both natural gas and artificial gas are available. Insome instances part of a community, has natural gas while another parthas artificial gas.-

ln other cases the same main, may at one time furnish artificial gas andat other times natural gas may be fed into it to help carry the peakload or vice versa.

It is a common experience that burners adapted for the use of naturalgasdo not satisfactorily burn artificial gas and vice versa. This is dueto the fact that natural gas is much richer than artificial gas. Therelative quantities of gas and air to be brought together in order toobtain perfect combustion are very difierent in the two cases. Withnatural gas only about one half the volume of gas is consumed forproducing a certain number of B. T. U. as compared with the usualartificial gas or, conversely, it takes about double the volume ofartificial gas as compared with natural gas to produce the same thermaleffect, while the quantity of air entering into combination iscorrespondingly smaller in connection with artificial gas than withnatural gas.

It is oftennecessary to rebuild the burner of a gas fire adapted for onekind of gas to adapt it for use with another kind of What has been saidin respect to the differences between natural gas and artificial gasapplies also, although to a lesser extent, to the differences betweendifferent kinds of artificial gas and natural gas respectively.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a gas burneradapted to produce perfect combustion whether applied to Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 19232.

Serial No. 466,409.

natural gas, artificial gas or to different lrinds of either gas.

It is a more special object to provide a burner with means forcontrolling the rela tive quantities of gas and air to bring about:perfect combustion under all practical conin different operativepositions;

Fig. 8 is all end view of the burner and showing fragmentary parts of agas fire;

Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary sectional views of a detail; and

Fig. 11 is an end view of the detail arrangement shown in Figs. 9 and10.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and a the burner consists of an upper manifoldpassage 10 and a lower mixing tube 11, which arrangement has been foundadvantageous in con-.

nection with a plurality of burner units, pm'ticularly for fires.However, this arrangement forms no part of the invention.

The burner shown comprises seven burner units although a greater orsmaller number can be used, the number of burner units not beingmaterial to the invention.

The manifold tube 10 consists of a lower part 10 cast in one piece withthe-mixing tube 11, and an upper part 10, both parts having machinedsurfaces and apertured 2 is a plan View, partly in section;

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views thereof.

lugs 12* and 12 respectively for receiving screws or bolts. The upperpart has seats for the burner grids 13 which may be of any suitableconstruction. Above the burner grids and spaced therefrom is support l lfor the radiant mantles 15 indicated in part in Fig. 4 together with thefire back 16.

Between the upper part 10 and the lower part 10" is fitted a plate 17containlng a damper or register. The plate 1.7 is stamped out to providea series of apertures 18 and upon the upper surface of the plate 17 ismounted a slide 19 having apertures 18 corresponding to the apertures 18of plate 17. The slide 19 is held in sliding contact with the plate 17by means of tongues 20 struck up from plate 17 or otherwise formed andbent over the slide 19. The plate 17 has apertures 21 spaced to registerwith certain of the lugs 12 and 12 so that its position relative to themanifold is fixed.

At one end the slide 17 has an upturned. perforated car 22 adapted toform a bearing for a swivel 23 at the end of a screw 24. The screw 24:extends through a threaded bore in the end of the upper part 10 of themanifold and by turning it one way or the other, the slide 17 may bemoved correspondingly. At one end of the slide 17 is a top 25, which mayconveniently be an extension of the upturned portion 22, and at theopposite end is a stop 26 for limiting the movement of the slide in bothdirections. The stops abut against the adjacent tongues 20 and thearrangement is such that the extent of movement is no greater than thewidth of an aperture 18. The relation is furthermore such that when thestop 26 abutsagainst the adjacent tongue 20, the apertures 18 and 18 arein register and that when the stop 25 abuts against its adjacent tongue20, the apertures 18 are covered by the webs between the individualapertures 18 of the slide 17, these webs having the same width as theapertures.

Thus the effective passage areas leading to the grids 13 may be variedfrom a maximum equalling the sum of all. the apertures to a minimumwhich is approaching zero. Theoretically zero value can not be reachedbecause there is no such absoluely tight fit between plate 17 and slide19 as would completely stop the passage of gas and no such tight fit isin fact intended.

The gas admitting mechanism is attached to the open end of the mixingtube as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and. This mechanism has aperturedlugs 27 and 28 by which it may be attached to the end face of the mixingtube 11 which has bracket arms 29 to receive the screws passing throughthe lugs 27 and 28 respectively.

The gasadmitting mechanism comprises the usual admission valve mechanismincluding a stem 30 and a hand grip 31 for turning it and a regulatingorifice for controlling the flow of gas.

The regulating orifice comprises a slotted tapered sleeve 32 havingasliding fit in a bore 33 of a nozzzle element 34 which has a smallaperture 35 in alignment with the bore of the sleeve 32. The wings 36 ofthe sleeve bear at their free ends against the tapered front wall of thenozzle element 3% so that by movement of the sleeve against this taperedwall the wings are contracted and the etl'ective aperture of the sleeveis reduced. When the pressure is released, the spring wings reactagainst the tapered wall and push the sleeve back again thus againincreasing the effective orifice.

T preferably use an eccentric 37 carried upon a pintle 38 for actuatingthe sleeve 32. .Vhile there is considerable latitude in regard to thearrangement, I preferably provide the pintle with a groove 39 engaging apin 10 for holding the pintle 38 against axial movement. As best shownin Fig. 10 the pintle 38 extends into the gas passage so that theeccentric 37 bears against the end of the sleeve 32. The relationship ofthe parts is, of course, such that in the position of the eccentric inFigs. 9 and 10 the sleeve is forced inwardly into the nozzle element 34to its limiting position and that when the eccentric has been turned 180degrees from the position shown, the sleeve will spring back to theother extremeposition, maintaining contact with the eccentric during themovement.

l l hile the arrangement just described is broadly not new, theparticular construc tion, which I believe to be new, has the advantagethat no jamming of the sleeve is possible. l i hen the eccentric 37 isturned beyond the point corresponding to the extreme inward position ofthe sleeve 32 it will automatically recede again and release the sleeve.The pintle 38 will remain in any position since the reacting force ofthe wings is not sufiicient to turn it.

The valve stem 30 carries a pin 41 adapted to abut against stopshoulders 12 and 13 to limit the angular movement of the valve stem asis usual in similar arrangements.

The bracket arms 29 project rearwardly from the mixing tube to space thegas admitting mechanism therefrom, thus providing su'llicient space forthe ei'itrainment of air into the mixing tube, as is likewise common. Anair sleeve a l may be provided having sliding movement in the mixingtube 11 toward and away from the nozzle element 3 1.

The support 14, as best shown in Fig. 3, has downwardly extending legs45 which have threaded bores adapted to receive the screws extendingthrough some of the lugs 12 The support 1 1 may thus be rigidly attachedto the manifold in spaced relation above the grids 13. The mantles 15have integral ears 4:6 fitting into corresponding recesses 17 in thesupport. In front of the mantles the support 1% is formed with raisedportions 51 which together with the ears 4-6 hold the mantles in fixedposition. The recesses 17 are preferably formed by providing a pluralityof spaced ribs 48. The fire back is preferably provided on its base witha recess 53 fitting over the raised portion. 54 and with a projection insuch recess fitting into the depression 49 in the surface of the support14 (Fig. 1). The support may also be provided with upstanding portions50 bearing against the rear surface of the fire. back, as indicated inFig. 8.

The burner carries at its endsblocks 52 which fit against the side wallsof the usual gas fire casing (not shown) and have tapped holes by whichthey may be secured to such casing.

The swivel screw 24 and the valve mechanism project laterally from thecasing enclosing the burner and thus are readily accessible foroperation.

The operation is as follows:

YVhen the gas fire is applied to natural gas the sleeve 32 is closed tosubstantially its closing position thereby reducing the eifectiveorifice to a minimum. The velocity of the gas is thereby correspondinglyhigh while the volume admitted per unit of time is relatively small. Dueto the increased velocity the amount of air drawn in by the negativepressure is necessarily a maximum. These are exactly the conditionsrequired for a perfect combustion. According to the particular qualitiesof the natural gas, the orifice may be slightly adjusted, but it mustalways be very small. Within the range of adjustment involved, thevelocity of the gas and the corresponding negative pressure vary alsoslightly to bring about the proper condition of combustion for theparticular quality of the natural gas. Thus a slightly leaner naturalgas will be given a slightly smaller velocity and will consequently drawin a slightly smaller amount ofair while the volume admitted per unit oftime is sligthly larger than when a relatively richer gas is used andvice versa.

TWhen the gas fire is used with artificial gas, the sleeve is retractedto approximately open position so that the velocity of the and thenegative pressure are correspondingly reduced causing only a relativelysmall amount of air to: be entrained. On the other hand the volumeadmitted is relatively large.

These, again, are exactly the conditions required for a perfectcombustion. The artificial gas is lean as compared with natural gas anddoes not need as much air for per fect combustion as the natural gas,partic ularly since it usually contains air. The ratio of gas and air isthus automatically changed to suit the particular conditions A slightrange of adjustment may of course be necessary to take care of theparticular qualities of the artificialgas used, but the orifice issubstantially open.

All of these adjustments, however, would be for naught if notsimultaneously some other provisions were made to regulate combustion.-This leads us to the most material part of the invention.

Assume that a gas fire of the usual kind adapted for perfect combustionwith natural gas were connected to artificial gas. If the valve wereentirely opened, the flame would be blown up with a hissing noiseindicating that too much air is drawn in. valve is more or less closed,the flame would strike back to the nozzle. Thus regulation of the valvealone would be inadequate.

Conversely if a gas fire of the usual kind originally adapted forperfect combustion with artificial gas were connected to natural gaswith the valve wide open, the gas would evolve dense smoke indicatingincomplete combustion. Closing the valve would gradually reduce thesmoke but would not eliminate it.v The flame and therewith the heat,would decrease and the flame would finally strike back.

The reason is probably this:

The difference in the qualities of natural gas and artificial gas issuch that within the range of control in the usual burner constructionas at present available, the amount of air drawn in by the natural gaswould not be suflicient to afford complete combustion if the burner isadapted for artificial gas and the amount of air drawn in by artificialgas would be too great if the burner is originally constructed fornatural gas. Adjustment of the usual air sleeve at the end of the mixingtube would be of no avail.

Applicant has recognized the conditions essential for obtaining perfectcombustion with one and the same burner construction and has introduceda draft regulator between the nozzle element 84 and the flame.

With natural gas the register 17, 19 is drawn wide open to make theeffective passage substantially a maximum, the draft is thus also amaximum. The gas issuing from the nozzle of the admission mechanismtherefore encounters only a small resistance and the high velocity ofthe stream can be really made effective to draw in the large amount ofair necessary to bring about complete combustion, while this high nozzlevelocitya would not have the desired efi'ect were the stream to meet arelatively greater resistance.

When artificial gas is used, the damper or register is substantiallyclosed. The draft is thus reduced to a minimum. The effective passage islarge enough to let the gas pass but the draft is reduced to such anextent that no more than the necessary amount of air is drawn in at thenozzle It should be noted that the gas being lighter than air has anatural tendency to rise When the through the mixing and manifold tubesand does not need any special force behind it. The clearance spacebetween the slide 19 and the plate 17 is SllillCiGllll to let all thegas pass. The issues from the nozzle .in a large slow stream passingslowly through the mixing tube and draws in only a small amount of air.I

In both cases, however, the register may be slightly adjusted from thetwo extreme positions according to the qualities of the particular gasused alone or concurrently with the sleeve 32 as above pointed out.

At any rate by the concurrent adjustment of the orifice of sleeve 82 andthe register it is possible to condition the burner "for perfectcombustion with natural gas and artificial gas Whatever their propertiesmay be.

In practice the admission orifice is adjusted for the particular gas tobe used and once set, the adjustment need not be disturbed. If the B. T.U. of the gas per unit volume are known, the adjustment may be made inthe factory. The other adjustments are thereafter made only by means ofthe register.

\Vhile the particular forms of gas admission mechanism and dampermechanism show what applicant considers as preferred embodiments of theinvention, there is of course a considerable range of mechanisms forcarrying out the invention.

It may be said in addition that the form of grid may be also variedwithin wide limits, provided however that the resistance to the flow ofgas must be small so as not to introduce a resistance which would makethe damper mechanism inoperative for the purpose specified.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 the grids have four relatively largeapertures. although other forms may be chosen. I prefer to have thoseapertures disposed to one side of the center so that the flame isprincipally directed against the baek of the radiant mantles.

Although I have the invention shown as applied to radiant gas fires, itis needless to say that it is of more general application and may beapplied in diil'erent burner construction.

I claim 1. In a burner construction for natural gas and for artificialgas, a grid, a mixing tube, a conduit between the grid and the mixingtube, having a cross sectional area at least as large as the effectiveaperture of the grid and means for constricting the said cross-sectionalarea.

2. In a burner construction for natural gas and for artificial gas, agrid, a mixing tube, a conduit between the grid and the mixing tube,having a cross sectional area at least as large as the effectiveaperture of the grid and an adjustable register occupying saidcross-sectional area.

3. In a burner construction for natural gas and for artificial gas, aplurality of grids, a mixing tube, a manifold between the grids and themixing tube, having a crosssectional area at least as large as the sumof the effective apertures of the grids and an adjustable registeroccupying said cross-sectional area.

a. In a burner construction for natural gas and for artificial gas, thecombination of a grid, a mixing tube, a conduit between the grid and themixing tube, having a cross-sectional area at least as large as theefifective aperture of the grid, means for constricting said apertureand a gas admission mechanism having a variable orifice.

5. In a burner construction for natural gas and for artificial gas, aplurality of grids, a mixing tube, a manifold between the grids and themixing tube, having a cross-sectional area at least as large as the sumof the effective apertures of the grids, means for constricting the saidCI'OSS-Sem tional area and a gas admission mechanism having a variableorifice.

6. A gas burner having a passage between the gas inlet and the top ofthe burner of considerably greater cross-sectional area than theeffective aperture at the top and means in said passage for varying theresistanee to the flow of the gas.

7. A gas burner having a passage between the gas inlet and the top ofthe burner of a cross-sectional area larger than the effective apertureat the top, means extending across said passage defining a plurality ofapertues and means for variably constricting said apertures.

8. A. burner for gas fires having a plurality of burner grids, amanifold tube, a gas inlet, a plate extending across the manifold anddefining a plurality of apertures and means for variably constrictingthe said apertures.

9. A burner for gas fires having a plurality of burner grids, a manifoldtube, a gas inlet and an adjustable register extending across themanifold.

10. A burner for gas fires having a plurality of burner grids, amanifold, a gas inlet, means for varying the orifice of the inlet andmeans extending across the manifold for varying the resistance to thegas flow.

11. In a gas burner, a manifold consisting of an upper section carryingburner grids and a lower section having a gas inlet, a plate defining aplurality of apertures, means for variably constricting the saidapertures, said plate being disposed between the upper and the lowersections of the manifold, means for securing the said sections and thesaid plate together and means for actuating the constricting means.

12. In a gas burner, the combination with the burner top and a mixingtube, of a gas admission mechanism having a variable orifice and meansbetween the mixing tube and the burner top for varying the resistance tothe gas flow.

13. In a gas burner, the combination of a manifold comprising an uppersection carrying burner grids, a lower section, a mixing tube integralwith the lower section, a register between the said sections, a supportfor mantles and a fire brick above the upper section and means forsecuring the said sections, the register and the said support togetherto form a unitary structure.

14:. In a burner construction, a grid, a mixing tube, a conduit betweenthe grid and the mixing tube and means in said conduit for varying theefiecti've cross-sectional area thereof, the grid, the mixing tube andthe said conduit having such characteristics that when the effectivecross-sectional area of the conduit is nearly a maximum, the burnerconstruction is adapted for burning natural gas and when the efiectivecrosssectional area of the conduit is nearly a minimum, the burnerconstruction is adapted for burning artificial gas.

15. In a burner construction, a grid, a mixing tube, a conduit betweenthe grid and the mixing tube and means in said conduit for varying theeffective cross-sectional area thereof, the grid, the mixing tube andthe said conduit having such characteristics that when the eifectivecross-sectional area of the conduit is nearly a maximum, the burnerconstruction is adapted for burning natural gas and when the effectivecrosssectional area of the conduit is nearly a minimum, the burnerconstruction is adapted for burning artificial gas, and gas admissionmecha nism having a variable orifice.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

JOHN H. GRAYSON.

